For the first time in my life, I'm seriously considering writing a letter in defence of a fascist.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

For those who aren't aware of it, the British National Party is a small semi-fascist far-right political party here in England (despite the B in their name, their presence in Wales, Scotland and Ireland is vestigial, I believe). So not, in general, people I would touch with a barge pole.

However, one of them has just been arrested - not just condemned or threatened, but actually arrested - for burning a Qu'ran in his own garden.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/apr/09/bnp-candidate-arrested-quran-burning

This scares the hell out of me - doubly so because the Guardian - normally a reliably liberal publication - appears to see nothing wrong with it.

[msongs]

1. the religiously insane would like the world enslaved by "blasphemy" laws, Islamist & Jesus-ists

both. The inquisition is coming to a house near you as soon as the crackpots can arrange it.